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Fletcher YMCA almost ready for September debut

Work continues on the Fletcher YMCA at the Mission Pardee Health Campus. The facility is scheduled to open in September.

MIKE DIRKS/TIMES-NEWS

By Molly McGowanTimes-News Staff Writer

Published: Saturday, August 16, 2014 at 1:29 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, August 16, 2014 at 1:29 p.m.

FLETCHER — The walls are up, the drywall's spackled and the air conditioning's running at the Fletcher YMCA as construction crews hurry to have the new facility painted, floored and ready for members in September.

Slated to open to the public by the end of next month, the new YMCA will debut for an exclusive look to its community partners Tuesday, and Pardee Hospital's cardiac rehabilitation and physical therapy offices upstairs will open to patients Monday.

Located on the Pardee-Mission Health Campus on Hendersonville Road, the Fletcher YMCA will occupy the first floor of the 40,000-square-foot facility, which is being built by the YMCA of Western North Carolina, Mission Health and Pardee.

“We're one in very few (YMCA facilities) in collaboration with a hospital,” said LaTisha Steele, vice president of operations for the YMCA of Western North Carolina.

As part of that collaboration, Pardee's physical rehabilitation therapists in the upstairs offices will be able to offer their patients on-site therapy in the YMCA's therapeutic pool, Steele said.

Another element of the three-way partnership is the demonstration kitchen being installed in the YMCA's multipurpose room, which can be divided into two rooms. Stelle said the demonstration kitchen will have mirrors installed above the preparation area, so people in the room can watch as nutrionists prepare healthy meals.

“It's definitely like a cooking show,” Steele said.

The demonstration kitchen at the Fletcher YMCA will be the first of its kind in the YMCA of Western North Carolina's region, and is a gift from Mission Health.

“It's perfect to happen on a medical campus,” Steele said.

The YMCA's wellness center, a gift from Pardee, will feature the standard cardio and strength-training equipment and free weights found in other locations, as well as a 2,500-square-foot group exercise room with wood floors.

“There's going to be a walking track all the way around the wellness center and down the hallway,” Steele said. “(Members) can literally walk the length of the building.” The feature would be an alternative to walking in an indoor mall, she added.

Along the hallway, there will be a youth development center for members' children to explore while the adults work out, and a cycle room for spin classes.

At 800 square feet, “It's one of the bigger ones we have in the association,” Steele said.

At the end of the hallway are entrances to the men's and women's locker rooms, and the turn-around point for walkers using the indoor track.

Though the Fletcher YMCA doesn't have a set opening date, Steele said the new location is scheduled to have an open house on Oct. 16. She said she looks forward to Tuesday's “sneak peek” for community partners.

“Hopefully it'll be a good opportunity for people to join early,” she said, adding that individuals can register for membership at the new facility by visiting other local YMCA locations.

Steele added that the YMCA already has leadership staff in place, but is hiring “anywhere between 15 and 30” part-time positions in customer service, child care, group exercise instruction and wellness.

<p>FLETCHER — The walls are up, the drywall's spackled and the air conditioning's running at the Fletcher YMCA as construction crews hurry to have the new facility painted, floored and ready for members in September.</p><p>Slated to open to the public by the end of next month, the new YMCA will debut for an exclusive look to its community partners Tuesday, and Pardee Hospital's cardiac rehabilitation and physical therapy offices upstairs will open to patients Monday.</p><p>Located on the Pardee-Mission Health Campus on Hendersonville Road, the Fletcher YMCA will occupy the first floor of the 40,000-square-foot facility, which is being built by the YMCA of Western North Carolina, Mission Health and Pardee.</p><p>“We're one in very few (YMCA facilities) in collaboration with a hospital,” said LaTisha Steele, vice president of operations for the YMCA of Western North Carolina.</p><p>As part of that collaboration, Pardee's physical rehabilitation therapists in the upstairs offices will be able to offer their patients on-site therapy in the YMCA's therapeutic pool, Steele said.</p><p>Another element of the three-way partnership is the demonstration kitchen being installed in the YMCA's multipurpose room, which can be divided into two rooms. Stelle said the demonstration kitchen will have mirrors installed above the preparation area, so people in the room can watch as nutrionists prepare healthy meals.</p><p>“It's definitely like a cooking show,” Steele said.</p><p>The demonstration kitchen at the Fletcher YMCA will be the first of its kind in the YMCA of Western North Carolina's region, and is a gift from Mission Health.</p><p>“It's perfect to happen on a medical campus,” Steele said.</p><p>The YMCA's wellness center, a gift from Pardee, will feature the standard cardio and strength-training equipment and free weights found in other locations, as well as a 2,500-square-foot group exercise room with wood floors.</p><p>“There's going to be a walking track all the way around the wellness center and down the hallway,” Steele said. “(Members) can literally walk the length of the building.” The feature would be an alternative to walking in an indoor mall, she added.</p><p>Along the hallway, there will be a youth development center for members' children to explore while the adults work out, and a cycle room for spin classes.</p><p>At 800 square feet, “It's one of the bigger ones we have in the association,” Steele said.</p><p>At the end of the hallway are entrances to the men's and women's locker rooms, and the turn-around point for walkers using the indoor track.</p><p>Though the Fletcher YMCA doesn't have a set opening date, Steele said the new location is scheduled to have an open house on Oct. 16. She said she looks forward to Tuesday's “sneak peek” for community partners.</p><p>“Hopefully it'll be a good opportunity for people to join early,” she said, adding that individuals can register for membership at the new facility by visiting other local YMCA locations.</p><p>Steele added that the YMCA already has leadership staff in place, but is hiring “anywhere between 15 and 30” part-time positions in customer service, child care, group exercise instruction and wellness.</p><p>“We will be adding jobs to the community,” she said.</p><p>Reach McGowan at molly.mcgowan@blueridgenow.com or 828-694-7871.</p>